If you are a true coffee aficionado visiting Seoul, the Hapjeong is your playground. Today, I want to share two extraordinary spaces that define the “art of coffee” in this neighborhood: Identity Coffee Lab and Lounge Clarimento. While they share a deep respect for the bean, each offers a uniquely different atmosphere.

Lounge clarimento

The sign here stands out in pink purple.

Info about Lounge Clarimento

Address: 18, Jandari-ro 7an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Price range: 3,300 - 9,000won

Opening hours: weekday 8am - 7pm
   weekend 10am - 7pm

Vibe

The lounge exudes a calm, almost meditative vibe. The minimalist aesthetic allows you to focus entirely on the sensory experience—the aroma of freshly roasted beans. It’s the perfect spot for those seeking a “mindful” coffee break away from the bustling streets of Hongdae.

The coffee here is known for its clean finish and clear flavor profiles. If you appreciate the subtle notes of single-origin beans, this is your sanctuary.

Don’t forget to try their curated desserts, which are designed to complement the acidity and body of their coffee selections.

Recommendation

The toast I ate with tap coffee was so soft and moist that it melted gently in my mouth.

It takes 15 minutes for the toast to come out after ordering, but you have to wait enough to eat it.

It’s equipped with equipment for high-end coffee. It’s fun to watch.

Nestled in the quiet alleys of Hapjeong-dong, Lounge Clarimento is more than just a coffee shop. It’s a space where time seems to slow down. I was immediately drawn to the sophisticated harmony of its dark wood interior and the gentle play of natural light.

It’s a space where a wooden wall and an old-looking sofa go well together.

The window is wide, so it’s open and the sun is shining well.

The coffee dripper seems to be using an Orea product.

It’s good to watch the barista make coffee when you sit in the bar.

Coffee beans are also available for purchase.

According to the 'Nubegris' website, it is Spanish, meaning 'dark cloud'.
With a flow of soft sweetness and comfortable flavor,
It naturally permeates the beginning of the day.
It is called a house blend that opens up the flow. 

-Clarimento homepage-

You can see signs of celebrities signing cups.

In addition to the first floor space, there is a large space underground, so it is a good place to slowly drink coffee, read books, or work on laptops.

The stage? There’s the same space,
It’s called “Lounge”
It was a space where I felt it. It’s underground, but the ceiling is high, I don’t feel stuffy.

If you visit here during lunchtime, you can see many office workers in Seoul drinking coffee for dessert.

Drinking coffee after meals is an important culture in Korea.

2. Identity Coffee Lap

Identity Coffee Lab is where precision meets passion. As the name suggests, this place is a “laboratory” for discovering the true identity of each coffee bean.

Minimalist, bright, and modern. It feels like a sanctuary for those who take their brewing seriously.

This cafe has many good coffee beans. It is a good cafe where you can enjoy coffee that you have not tasted at other cafes.

Info about identity coffee Lap

Address: 139, Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic

Price range: 4,000 - 9,000won

Opening hours : 11am - 7:30pm (closed on Sunday)

The taste of coffee

Their roasting technique is world-class. I highly recommend their Filter Coffee. The flavor notes are incredibly clear—whether it’s the floral acidity of an Ethiopian bean or the nutty sweetness of a Colombian. Watching the baristas work with such focus is a visual treat. It’s a place for those who want to “study” and savor the complexity of coffee.

Vibe

This place has a neat and calm atmosphere by unifying colors with monotones such as stainless steel bar tables and black furniture.

I couldn’t drink filter coffee that day. But watching a lot of young people drink filter coffee, I thought I should drink filter coffee next time I come back.

Grinder is ‘Ozic’, I think it’s like that.
It’s my first time seeing that in person,
I think I’ll have to ask next time I go.

The identity coffeeLap has a very minimal design. Overall, it feels neat, but even the grinder is very good in design.

The balance of space comes in harmony, with the proper placement of plants in monotone and cold furniture.

The glass display case is stylish.

Plants are arranged everywhere, causing a change in the monotony of the space.

My personal feelings & Recommendations

If you want to feel the hip sensibility of Korea, I recommend you to see people at the ‘identity coffee lab’ and experience their coffee culture firsthand.

These two places are excellent cafes where you can enjoy speciality coffee in Hapjeong and Hongdae. If you visit here, you will get a glimpse of the life of the young mz generation in Korea. I recommend you not to go to cafes that are crowded with tourists anymore, but to experience hip cafes that are really visited by locals in Seoul.

Both places sell Coffee beans, so I recommend you to buy them if you can afford them.

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